Automatically-operating fire-extinguisher.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

1. `H. W. HILDEBRAND. i AUTOMATIGALLY OPERATING PIRE EXTINGUIS HBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2l, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTI-:D JAN. so, 1906.

H. W. HILDEBRAND.A AUTOMATIGALLY OPERATING PIRE EXTINGU ISHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2l, 1905.

Wle@ 97%. v

UNl l HENRYVV. HILDEBRAND,

0F DENVER, COLORADO.

notarieel.

Specification ot' Lettera Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application met Jun@ ai, isos. sain no. 266,239.

T0 all whom, t may concern: n

Be it known that l., HENRY W. HILDEBRAND, a citizen ofthe United Statesof America, vresiding' in the city and county" of Denver and State ofUoloradmhave invented a new and useful Automatically-OperatingFire-Extinguisher, of which the following is a spectication, l v

My invention relates toan improved tireextinguisher; and the objects ofmy invention are, iirst, to provide an automatically-operating{ire-extinguisher; second, to provide an automaticallyoperating fireextinguishing system; having an acid-gas-spraying device; fourth, toprovide a fire-extinguisher provided with an interior cylinder arrangedto form an annular gas-discharging space within it; fifth, to provide asafe, durable, simple, automatic fire-extinguisher that is adapted to beused singly or in series and be permanently positioned withinorsuspended from the ceilings of rooms and that is adapted to operativelyuse the chemical fire-extinguishing solutions in common use. I attainthese objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- 'Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedfire-extinguisher arranged in an automatically-operative series or'system that is adapted to protect a large room. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of a single extinguisher suspended to the ceiling of a room by afusible hook. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the locking-bolt liemploy to hold the extinguishers of the system in position for operativeuse. Fig. 4 is plan view of one of the cans. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalvertical sectional view illustrating. av modification of my device inwhich the cans are placed in boxes between the joists and beneath thefloor of a building, the boxes being provided with a bottom composed ofhinged doors which are normally closed by a spring-latch, the chainwhich supl ports a can in one box being connected with the spring-latchin the adjoining box. Fig. o is a similar view showing the series oflatches tripped and the cans dropped to an operative position. Fig. 7 isa diagram illustrating the manner of operating a series ofextinguishers.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parte throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings,tl1e numeral i designates a body of a can or areceptacle of any suitable form, 2 its bottom member, and.

third, to provide a fire-extinguisherl 3 the topl member of the can. Thetop and bottom of the can. are secured to the body part in any suitablemanner. I form the top member 3 of the can with two fiat step portions4.- and 5 and two short vertical portions 6 and 7, the upper verticalportion 7 of which forms the neck of the can.' Athread 8 is formed onthe outer surface of the neck 7, and a cap 9 is threaded tothe neck.

To the inside surface of the vertical portion .6 of the capI secure,preferably by solder., one end of a cylindricall tube 10, the oppositeend `of which extends to 'close to, but not quite to, the bottom of thecan, a small annular space 11 being left between the bottom of the canand the lower edge of the cylinder. rlhis cylinder divides the interiorof the can into two compartments that are connected together at thebottom `through the annular space below the lower edge of the cylinder,and through the surface of the step 4 I form a plurality of gas andwater spraying apcrtures 12. l preferably make the can `round and form acircumferential row of small holes or perforations through the step,placing them quite close together. These perforaside of the can and theouter surface of the cylinder 10.

To thecentral portion of the inside of the cover I secure a shortdepending cone 13,and

to the surface of the cone l secure at equal l distances apart severaldepending arms, brackets, or strips 14, to the lower ends of `tions formdischarge-apertures forthe circumferentlal concentrlcspace -between thewhich l secure a cap 15.. The interior of 'this cap is threaded. r'.lothis cap I secure a small glassrreceptacle or bottle 16, preferably byforming a thread on its neck to screw tightly into the cap, and inthetop of the 'cap I form a discharge-aperture 17, through which the apexof the cone extends, and l make this aperture a trifle larger than thediameter of the cone at the point it passes through the top of thebottle in order to form adischargeaperture for the contents of thebottle all around the cone. 'lo the center of the bottom of the can lsecure an eye 18. secure one end of a cord or` chain 19, the oppositeend of. which l secure to an eye 20, which l secure to the ceiling of aroom. On the top of the cap of the can l form an eye 21, and to theceiling 22 of the room in which the'ean ishung l secure adjacent'to theeye 20 an eye 22", to which l hang one end ofa fusible hook 23, theopposite end of which is To this eye I IIO l. water, and the bottle isprovided with a supprises a casing 27,

ply of acid,the proportion of acid to the volume of solution being sucha determinate amount as will form a suitable chemicallire-extingui'shing gas when they are mixed together. On the step washer24?, of paper or of any other` suitable material, and then stick andcoat the washer `with a coat of shellac or vwith any other suitablematerial. The cap is also fitted or made perfectly air-tight on the topof the can, and

the solution and acid are thus prevented from evaporating. Y

In Fig.-1 Iillustrate my improved tire-extinguisher arranged in series.VIn this arrangement the re-extinguishingcan, the liquids in the can,ythe chain, and the fusible hook are -the same as illustrated in Fig. 2;but the fusible hook is hung on the locking end 25-of a springlocking-bolt 26. This spring locking-bolt comwhich is secured to theceiling 22, a `bolt 26 and a coiled spring surrounding said bolt in theaperture in said casl to the ceiling,

is connected to the one adjacent to it, and so ing, in which saidatively mounted.' Such a spring-bolt is, in common use and in itselfdoes not form any, part of my invention. The opposite end of the boltfrom its locking end is provided with an eye 28, and to this eyeI'attach one end of a cord 29, preferably a wire cord. This cordlextends to and is connected to the end of the chain.19, whichissupported by and passes over a small pulley or sheave 30, which ispivotally mounted in a yoke v31, that is secured and each{ire-extinguishing can on around to the first can hung. All the cans arein this way connected together. Thus assuming'that the can 32 of Fig. lwas thefirst can to, be hung from the ceiling it would be l `connectedto can 33 bythe chain 19, which wouldy pass over the pulley 30 and wouldconnect to the spring-bolt 26, from which the can 33 is'supported by its`fusible hook 23, and the can-33 is .then connected in the same mannerto the can 34, and the can 34 is connected in the same manner to thecan. 35, and the can 35 is connected in the saine manner to the can 32,from which the series started. Then if a tire starts under or adjacentto any one its fusible hook would melt and it would drop and hang capdown from the end of its chain, and the weight and jerk of its dropwould pull on its cord and pull back the spring-bolt out of the fusiblehookl of the can next to it in the order of the operative droppingarrangement, and as the next-candrops it pulls on its connect- 4 overthe perforations I place a bolt is slidably and opering-cord with thenext can and frees it, and'so on around to the can that first dropped.4Consequently they are all dropped into operative fire-extinguishingposition by the melting of the fusible hook of any one can in thesystem. Thus if a fire should start adjacent to the can 32 it would bythe weight of its drop setoi" the can 33, then 34, and then 35, whichwould all follow in almost instantaneous succession. Thus any number offire-extinguishers could be arranged in any order desired to the underside of aceiling,and in a convenient point in the system a springalarm-bell 36 can be connected by a cord or wire 37 to one of the cords29 or chains 19 in such a manner-as to set the alarm bell off when the'tire-extinguishers drop. WhileI have illustrated this alarmbell attachedto the ceiling, it can be placed 'in the office of a factory or plantwhere the system `is in use, or in any place where it would attract theattention o'f a watchman, or to a telephonic lire-alarm system thatQconnects'directly with the lire department of the city or town in whichthe building or buildings are located using'my lire-extinguisher. l

In Figs. 5 and 6 I illustrate my automatic manufacturing systemsubstantially as shown in Fig. 1, with a'v few slight modifications inthe dropping mechanism inclosed in boxes which are placed between theceilingfjoists and secured in position there in any suitable manner. Theboxes are adapted to hold the lire-extinguishers and are arranged singlyor in series in any predetermined operative order between the oor-joistsor ceiling-joists of rooms level with the plastered ceiling whichextends between them, as shown inf-Fig. 5. The bottom of each box isprovided with a pair of trap-doors 38 and 39, which are hinged to theopposite corners of the box by the hinges40 and 41. These doubletrap-doors are locked in a closed position by a combination of threehooks 42, 43, and 44. The hook 42 is a fixed non-fusible metal hook thatis permanently iixed'in the lower side'edge of the box at the side ofthe doors and depends below thcm with its point arranged out of theiropening path. Above this hook within the box I pivotally secure a.spring locking-bolt 26 by a screw 46, which passes loosely through a lug47, formed on the casing 27 of the spring locking-bolt,

-which is similar in construction to the locking-bolt of Fig. 3, withthe exception that it is pivotally secured on one screw to tilt insideof the box instead of being rigidly secured as .-i-t is in Fig. 1, andto a lug 47", which is formed -on the lower side of the lockingfboltscasing 27, I secure one end ofva fusible hook 43, the hook end of whichdepends andnormally hooks IOO IIO

under the hook end of' the hook 42, and the hook unprovided fusible hookis lmade of a length to der the hook 42. The door38 is lwith a rabbetedlip 48, and the doo`r38 when closed fits up under and against the edgeof locking-bolt it will stand substantially horieinem the door 39, whichrests on top of it, and in order to hold the door 38 normally closed lsecure one end of a hook 44 to it. The opposite or hook end of the hook44 is arranged to hook'over the locking v4end 25 of the springbolt r26,and when this hook 44 and the ,fusible hook 43 are both connected to thespring zontally in the box. The lire-extinguishing can is placed in the`b ox and is seton top of the trap-doors, and the free end of the chain19, that is connected to thje'bottorn of the can, is connected `to apulley 51, that is pivotally mounted in a yoke 52, that is secured tothe inside of thetopY of the box, and the chain '19 extends to tbenextforward box 45 of the systemand. is secured Ato the eye 28 at the rearend of the locking-bolt26 of the box 45. In this arrangement the fusiblehook at'the top of the can is dispensed with. A single box andfireextin, ;uisher can be used in this system if thel can-chain issecured to the top of the box or to the ceiling just the same as withthe single extinguisher shown in Fig. 2 if it is desired to conceal thecan from view; but it is more especially adapted to a series oftire-extinguishers, and in this case the chain 19 is secured to the eye28 at the rear end of the spring-bolt-26 and extendsthrough the box andto the pulley or sheave 51 of the next box 45A and frerextinguishing canin the rear, the same as shown in Fig. 1. vin order to o perativelyarrange the cans in the box, the can is first placed in the box, thenthe doors are simultaneously closed with the locking end of the springlocking bolt, the fusible hook which hangs below the ceiling is hookedunder the fixed hook 42, and the two hooks that is, the door-hook andthe fusible hookin connection with the spring locking-bolt, firmlysecure the doors in a locked position until the fusible hook melts. Thenwhen a tire starts the fusible hook melts and lthe weight of the canpulls down on the doorhook 44 and also onthe end of the lockingbolt,causing the locking-bolt and its casing 27 to pivotally tilt on itspivotal screw. Then the hook 44 will slip od of the end of thelocking-bolt and the doors and can will drop, and the can will fallthrough the doors and hang downward atthe endof its chain. rIbis systemof connecting the boxes and fire-extinguishers in-series in asuccessively-operating automatic system is substantially the same' asthat shown in Fig. 1.

lnFig. 7 I have illustrated by means of a diagram the manner ofoperating a series of boxes or housings so that all the boxes in theseries will be operated by the dropping of any one of the cans. Thechain 19 at theend of each row of boxes connects by bellcranks 19^ withthe next succeeding row of boxes, so that when a fire starts under anyone of the boxes the falling of the can due to the melting of thefusible hook will operate the box next in order of movement and eachsucceeding box will be operated until thebox is reached where the firestarted. Thus., supposing the box X is the first to be operated by thefire, the remainingboxes will be affected as indicated by the arrows.vtemplates any system of connecting these lireextinguishers intoautomatic operative rela.

My invention, however, contion that will enable any one iireextinguisherin the series when itsy fusible hook is melted bythe heat of a fire toautomatically precipitate all of the others in substantiallyinstantaneous successive order. My improved 'reextinguisher operates toextinguish a fire in the following manner: When a can falls, it

turns upside down and hangs with its cap downward at the end of itssupporting-chain.

The acid runs out of the bottle and mingles with the solution, thusforming a suitable chemical lire-extinguishing gas which generatespressure and forces the sealing-washer from the step 4 and from over thespraying-aper 4 tures 12, from which the gas and solution escape andunder its natural pressure sprays downward and iows around a'considerable area below and around `the can and extinguishes, or atleast dampens, checls, and deadens any fire it comes in contact with,while the alarm calls attention and assistance.

My invention is simple and inexpensive to install as an automatic systemin factories, manufacturingplants, establishments, shops, warehouses,and private residences, and while I have illustrated and described thepreferred construction and arrangement of it,\both as a single and asamultifple automatic fire-'extingusher, l do not wish to be limited tothe constructions and arrangements shown, as there are many ways 1nwhich 1t can be operatively applied without departing from the spirit ofmy invention. s

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, isM

1. In a fire-extinguisher, a main receptacle containing a supply ofsolution, a stepped topportion to said main receptacle, a cap secured tosaid stepped top portion, a cylin er in` said main receptacle, to nearthe bottom of said main receptacle and adapted to divide said mainreceptacle into two compartments, a connecting-space between said twocompartments below the lower edge of said cylinder, and the bottom ofsaid receptacle, a circumferential row of apertures in said stepped topportion of said receptacle, leading into the space in said receptacleseparated from the main body by said cylinder, a small receptacle insaid main receptacle containing a supply of acid, proportionate totheamount of solution in said main receptacle, and an acid-outlet in said4vsmall receptacle, as set forth.

2. ln a tire-extinguisher, a main receptacle containing a supply ofsolution, a stepped top portion to said main receptacle, a cap securedrow of apertures in said to said stepped top portion, a cylinder in saidmain receptacle, to near the bottom of said main receptacle and adaptedto divide said main receptacleinto two compartments, a conmeeting-spacebetween said two compartments below the lower edge of said cylinder, andthe bottom of said receptacle, a circumferential stepped top portion ofsaid receptacle, leading into the space in said receptacle separatedfrom' the main body by said cylinder, a small receptacle in said mainreceptacle containing a supply of acid,

proportionate to the amount of solution in` y a small receptacle securedto said. cone, and

main receptacle,

depending into the central portion of said and containing a supply ofacid, and an-outletaperture in said, small receptacle surrounding saidcone, as set forth.

, 4. In a {ire-extinguisher, a main receptacle, provided withacircumferential portion extending from its top portion to near itsbottom portion, and adapted to divide its inte-- rior intov twoconnecting-compartments, a supply of solution in said receptacle, aplurality of perforations in. the top of said receptacle leading intothe outer compartment, a cap secured to the top of said main receptacle,a cone depending from the bottom of said cap, asmall receptacle securedto said cone, and depending into the central portion ofl said mainreceptacle, and containing a supply of acid, .an outlet-aperture in saidsmall receptacle surrounding said cone, an eye secured to the top ofsaid can, a fusible hook secured to said eye and arranged and adaptedyto be hung and to depend said lire-extinguisher from or in proximity toa ceiling, and a chain or cord secured at one end tothe bottom of saidreceptacle, and at its opposite `end to or adjacent to a ceiling, as setforth.

5. ln a tire-extinguisher, a main receptacle, having 'a stepped topportion, a capsecured to said top portion, a fusible hook connected tosaid cap, an eye or hook attached to or adjacent to a ceiling to whichsaid fusible hook is adapted to be attached, whereby said recepta` cleis suspended from or adjacent to a ceiling, and a cord or chain securedat one end to the bottomof said receptacle, having its opposite endsecured to or adjacent to a ceiling, and adiacent to said fusible hook,as set forth.

6, ln aiire-'extinguisher,l a main receptacle,

connected to the top of said main receptacle,

and adapted to suspend said main receptacle, in proximity7 to a ceiling,and achain secured at one end to the bottom of said main receptacle andin proximity to a ceiling at its opposite end close to said fusiblehook, and adapted to hold said main receptacle in an inverted positionwhen said fusible hook melts, and mix said acid and solution together insaid main receptacle, as set forth.

7. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination of asolution-holdingreceptacle or can divided into two concentric compartments, by acylindrical partition, extending from its top to close to its bottom,and containinga connecting annular space below the edge of saidcylindrical partition, a stepped top to said receptacle, containing acircumferential row of apertures entering the outer compartment of saidreceptacle, a cap secured to the top of said receptacle, a smallacid-holding receptacle or bottle in said' main receptacle depending4from said vcap and provided with a discharge-aperture positioned abovesaid supply of solution in said main receptacle, a conical acid spreaderor distributer extending loosely into said acid-discharge aperture, afusible hook connected to the top of said main receptacle or can, an eyeconnected to said hook and adapted to be connected to a ceiling, andadapted to depend said main receptacle below a ceiling of a room in anupright position, a chain vsecured at one end to thebottom of said mainreceptacle, and to a ceiling, at its opposite end, in proximity tosaidfusible hook, and adapted to depend said main 'receptacle in an invertedposition when said fusible hook melts, as set forth.

. 8. in a tire-extinguisher, the combination of a can having a steppedtop portion, containing a mouth, a cap threaded to the mouth, and acylindrical partition in said can adapt- IOO IOS

ed to divide it into two compartments, and a circumferential row ofdischarge-perforations extending through one of the steps of said topportion and provided with an automaticallyremoving seal, adapted tonormally keep them sealed, when can is in position of disuse.

9. in a lire-extinguisher, the combination of the solution-holding can,having the stepped perforated top, the cap, the two compartmentsconnected at the bottom of said can, with the small acid-holdingbottle-in s'aid'can having a discharge-outlet, the conicalacid-distributer I extending into the discharge-aperture of saidacid-holding bottle, means, including a fusiago ble hook secured to thetop of said can, adapted for suspending said can from a ceiling, andmeans, `including a cord or chain attached at one end to the bottom ofsaid can, for holding said can from a ceiling in a depending position.,as set forth.

, 10. ln a fire-extinguisher, the combination of the canl provided witha supply of solution.` and containing two compartments connectedtogether at the bottom of the can, the circumferential row of`discharge-apertures in said can, and the washer-seal over saidapertures, with the cap threaded to the top of said can,

the conical distributer `connected to the bottom of said cap, thedepending arms secured to said conical distributer, the threaded cap'-supported aperture surrounded withan annuablecap, and normally sealeddischarge-apertures, with a'conical acid-distributer depending apexdownward from said cap, a plurality of arms secured to said conicaldistributer, a threaded cap supported by said arms, a discharge-aperturesurrounding said'conical aciddistributer and adapted to form adischargespace of predetermined area around 'said conical distributerabove the level of the solution in said c n, dischargespaces betweensaid arms, an a bottle provided with a supply of acid threaded yto saidlcap, `a fusible hook connected to the top of said can, means for secur-`ing said fusible hook to' aceling to depend said can therefrom in anupright position, a chain or cord secured at one end to the bottom ofsaid can, and means for securing the opposite end of said chain or cordto a ceiling lto stop and hold-saidcan in an inverted position when saidfusible hook melts, and it drops 12. ln a lire-extinguisher, of a seriesof fire-extinguishers, comprising a receptacle yhaving two yconcentriccompartments, connected at the bottom with each l, other., and holding asupply ofsolution and having la normally sealed plurality of aperturesthrough said can into the outer compartment, and an acid-holdingreceptacle in said receptacle, adapted to discharge its acid contentsinto the solution of said receptacle when said receptacle is turned intoan inverted position, a fusible hook to each {ire-extinguishingreceptacle, a chain secured at one end to each fire-extinguishingreceptacle, a pulley in said ceiling, arranged to support the oppositeend of said chain, a cord attached to the opposite end of each chain ofeach fire-extinguisher, and a spring-bolt secured to the ceiling andconnected at one end to said cord and having the fusible hook Vof each{ire-extinguisher receptacle in the system hooked over its operativebolt end, as set forth. l

13. In a lire-extinguisher, the combination of an automatic-operatingfire-extinguishing system adapted to be secured below or in theceiling-joists of rooms, comprising a plurality of main receptacles,each containing two cornpartments connected at the bottom of saidreceptacle, and containing a supply of solution, a small receptacle ineach main receptacle, `containing a supply of acid, and having adischarge-outlet above the solution of said main receptacle, aspring-bolt secured in juxtaposition to a ceiling at each point afire-extinguishing receptacle is to be placed, a fusible hook, securedto the.upper end of'lsaid fire-extinguishing receptacle adapted to behooked over the lockingend of said spring-bolt, a chain secured at oneend to each fire-extinguishing receptacle in the series, a` pulleysecured in juxtaposition to a ceiling `for supporting the opposite endportions of said chain, anda cord secured to the pulley end ofsaid chainof each 'fire-extinguishing receptacle at one end and at its opposite,end secured to the rear end of said lspring-bolt, as set forth.

' 14. In a fire-ext1ngu1sher,`the combination of a plurality of thetire-extinguishing receptacles, and theirpfusible hooks, and tiltingchains, arranged in any desired system be-- low or between theceiling-joists of rooms,

`and means, including a spring-bolt, for operativelyl precipitating allofsaid receptacles in successive order when the fusible hoolrof any onereceptacle is melted, as set forth.-

15. Ina fire-extinguishing system, a plurality of cans, eachcontainiugnormally sealed i discharge-apertures when in an uprightposi.-

tion, and containing a supply of solution, a bottle in each of saidcans, containing a supply of acid, said bottle containing adischargeaperture positioned above said solution when said can is in anupright position, a fusible hoolr` u at the top of each of said cans, insaidsystem,

means for operatively positioning said fusible hooks and cans in closeproximity to a ceiling, and means, including a spring-operated bolt, foroperatively precipitating the cans of the system in successive order,when the fusible hook of any one of the cans in the system is melted,and means for limiting the precipitative movement of said cans, as setforth.

16. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination of a plurality of thefire-extinguishing cans housed between the ceiling-joists of a room,`

trap-doors in the bottom of said housing, a spring-bolt pivotallysecured in said housing to tiltingly swivel, and arranged adjacent to,said trap-doors, a hook connected to hold said doors closed and arrangedto hook over the locking end of said spring-bolt, a tire-extinguishingcan resting on said trap-doors, a cord secured'at one end to the bottomof each of saidcans in said housing, a pulley in said housing arrangedto support the opposite end of said cord, a fixed hook depending fromsaid housing, a fusible hook connected tothe reary end of saidspring-bolt of each can, and arranged to depend therefrom and hook underthe fixed depending hook, and a chain extending from the rear end ofsaid spring-bolt, and connected to the cord of the adjacentreextinguishing can, said chains of said springbolts and said cords ofsaid cans being connected together in successive order throughout thesystem, so that When the fusible hook of any one housing melts itsspring-hookwill tilt and the trap-doors and can will drop and the jerkof the can on its cord Will pull the spring-bolt free of the trap-doorhook in the housing of the adjacent fire-extinguishing can, and the dropof this can Wili trip the spring'- bolt and doors of the nextl can inthe order of their arrangement around the circuit of the system to thecan Whose fusible hook melted, as set forth.

17. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination of the system offire-extinguishing cans and their housing-boxes, provided withtrap-doors arranged to support the fire -extinguishing cans, thetrap-door hooks, the' pivotally-tilting spring-bolts in said boxesadapted at their locking ends to lock to the boit ends of saidspring-bolts, the ixed hooks inthe bottom of said boxes, the fusiblehooks connected to the rearends of said spring locking-bolts, thedrop-limiting cords attached to the bottoms of sald fire-extinguishingcans, the pulleys in the top of said boxes for supporting said cords,and thechains secured to the rear ends of said spring locking-bolts,andconnected to the spring tilting-bolts of the boxes of the adjacenttire-extinguishing cansI in the order of their arrangement, around thesystem, as set forth.

In testimony whereof i afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY W. HILDEBRAN D.

